Laundry apparatus



SePf- 3, 1963 J. PELENSKY 3,102,408

LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1962 O O O 0 6 72 E w 66 56 e a 12v 4/.BAV d? 7 6J 5, 4d 53 JJ 52 0 22 3 L J4 "mum 37.35 J5 a @aad P/Q.2. ZI

INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,162,408 LAUNDRY APPAU-LTUS .loseph lelenslry,Philadeiphia, la., assigner to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., acorporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 2, 1%2, Ser. No. 177,938 l' Claims.(Ci. dniltl) This invention relates to laundry apparatus, and moreparticularly to laundry apparatus Lutilizing wobble-type agitators.

ln laundry machines generally, it is the practice to achieve washing byimparting vigorous movements to the articles being laundered. inwobble-type laundry machines,` the washing action is accomplished byfreely journalling an agitator of suitable conliguration on an obliquelydisposed member, such as an inclinedportion of `a rotatable drive shaft,the Iagitator being prevented from rotating with respect to the tub bysuitable restraining means. Continuous unidirectional rotation of thedrive shaft, acting through the eccentric inclined shaft portion,imparts a nonrotational undulatory or wobbling motion to the agitator7producing circulation fof the washing fluid land causing articles beingwashed to be brought into intimate contact with the turbulent streams of-water generated by movement of the agitator.

It is, an objective of the present invention to provide improvedwobble-type agitator structure.

It is a further objective of the invention to provide an improvedcombination of `a stationary column and wobble-type agitator apparatusthrough which the number of linkages and seals may be reduced, and whichcombination achieves an optimum washing action.

It is a further object of the invention to provide irnproved means forachieving rotation free undulatory movements of a wobble-plate agitator.

lt is a still further object of the invention to provide improvedagitator means for creating turbulent streams of Wash fluid eifeictiveboth to iwash clothes and to accommodate a filtering action for the washfluid.

In achievement of lthe foregoing and other objectives, the invention, ina preferred embodiment thereof, comprises a wobblefplate agitatorsupported by spider bracket means aiiixed to a suitable bearing mountedupon inclined shaft means extending into the :tub and spin basket of awashing machine. Hollow, generally cylindrical column means is supportedconcentrically with the tub and basket by bracket means comprising ashroud aiixed to the basket and including circumferentially spacedapertures through which arms of the spider bracket means extend, ininterdigitating relation therewith. 'I'he construction and arrangementis such that arms of the agitator support bracket means may nndulatewithin the apertures of the shroud. The apertures within the shroudadvantageously accommodate unidirectional dow of Wash iiuid downwardlythrough the hollow column and the shroud and outwardly therefrom.fthroughjthe apertures, which unidirectional flow is created throughthe novel cooperative action fof the shroud and means including animpeller disposed Within the latter and movable with the spider bracketmeans. Conveniently, suitable strainer means is provided in the upperregion of the shroud whereby positive iii-tering of the unidirectionallyflowing wash duid is achieved.

In further accordance with the invention the lagitator comprises a mainhollow cylindrical body portion concentric with the spider bracketmeans, said body portion including: an upper flexible sleeve portionaflixed to the column; a flange adjacent thereto extending transverselyof said body portion; a plurality of iiipper means extendingtransversely of said body portion and disposed adjacent the lowerportion of the latter; and an undulatory "ice lid flexible ilangeextending outwardly from said. body por tion in `ya region intermediatesaid upper flange `and said flipper means, peaks of said undulatoryflange being disposed iabove said flipper means and dips thereof beingdisposed intermediate said ilipper means.

it is a feature of the invention that the flow of iiuid through thehollow shroud not only accommodates a filtering action but also preventsfabrics from becoming lodged beneath the agitator and hindering itswashing action.

For la better understanding of the foregoing, as well as other objectsand features of the invention, reference may be had to the followingdescription taken in light of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective showing of a laundry machine embodying theinvention and with parts broken away;

HGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the machine illustrated inFiGURE l, partly in section and with parts broke naway;

FIGURE 3 is `a sectional View of apparatus shown in FIGURE 2, lookinggenerally in the direction of arrows 3 3 applied thereto and showingadditional features of the invention; and p `FIGURE 4 is an enlargedsectional showing, with parts removed, illustrating apparatus seen inFIGURE 2.

With more particular reference to the drawing, and first to FIGURES 1and 2, the invention is embodied in la washing machine of the typeincluding a cabinet l@ having a top wall l1 provided with an accessopening l2, and a door i3 hingedly mounted over the opening.

Means for controlling the machine comprises 4a control element mountedupon an escutcheon plate 16.

An upwardly presented tub 17 is housed within cabinet lil, and issupported upon a tubular column 21 that is resiliently mounted uponsuitable base means (not shown) forming part of the cabinet. There isalso housed Within the cabinet suitable motor `and transmission means,such for example as is disclosed and claimed in my copending disclosureentitled Drive Mechanism, tiled December 26, 1961, bearing Serial No.161,962, and yassigned to the assignee of the present invention. Therelation which the motor and transmission means bear to the invention,while not necessary to an understanding thereof, will be discussedbriefly later in this description.

An 'upwardly presented rotatable basket 22 is nested coaxially withintub 17 and supported upon hub means 23 journalled within bearing means2dprovided in the bottom of non-rotatable tub 17, in the region of theupper end of column 21. A hollow shaft 25 extends downwardly from hubmeans 23 concentrically with column 2l, and is connected to the outputdrive of the transmission which provides high speed spin of basket 22. Asolid shaft 26 is disposed concentrically with hollow shaft 25. Shaft 26is journalled by bearing means 27 `for rotation within hub means `2.3and its extension 25, and is adapted to be rotated by the output driveof the transmission providing for operation of the agitator 3l whichwill be described in detail in what rfollows.

With reference also to FIGURE 4, the. upper end of shaft 26 includes aninclined portion 32, and base 33 for `agitator 3l is journalled to theinclined shaft portion by bearing means `3d which is coaxial with thelatter.

An `annular face seal 28 is 'mounted coaxially upon the bottom of tub 17and :seals against an annular sealing member 29 provided in hub means23.

.More particularly, the inclined shaft portion 32 comprises a pair ofsleeves il and 42 carried by agitator shaft 26S. Sleeves il and 42comprise axially aligned portions 'd3 and dit, respectively. The `axisalong which portions d3 and @t are yaligned is disposed with angularityIas respects the axis of the agitator shaft. The inner race of bearingmeans Siis mounted upon portions 43 and 44 and is held in place byshoulders 45 and 46 thereof, through a clamping lforce exerted |`by thelatter elements upon the inner race. This clamping force is provided bya lnut 48 threaded onto the upper end of agitator shaft 26 and `forciblyengaging upper sleeve 43. The outer race of bearing 34 is coniinedwithin the cup shaped hub portion -47 of agitator base 33.

With reference also to FIGURE 3, base 33 includes a spider of three arms51 spaced 120 apart and extendying radially from hub portion 47. Arms`51 extend with clearance through `apertures 53 provided in bracketmeans comprising a generally Icylindrical shroud 52 mountedconcent-rically with `the bottom of basket 22 by Screws. The apertures53 -divide the shroud into generally vertically extending tripod 4leg orsupport portions disposed in interdigitating relation with arms 51.Shroud 52 tape-rs somewhat at its upper end Ito a lesser diametercylindrical portion 54.

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, a generally cylindrical wash aid dispenser55 is mounted upon the lesser diameter portion 4 of shroud `52 andincludes Ia lint screen 56 in the lower portion thereof, and in theupper region of the shroud. Additional structural details of thedispenser v5'5 will not be described, inasmuch as such details are notnecessary to an understanding of the invention. It should be mentioned,however, that the side wall of dispenser 55 includes slots 57 and thebottom -is open, whereby wash flu-id may flow, sequentially, throughslots 57, `screen 56, and the open bottom of the dispenser. These andother yfeatures .of a dispenser `of this kind may be more `fullyunderstood by making reference to my US. Patent No. 2,982,420, entitledLaundry Aid Dispensing IMeans for Clothes Washing Machines, and assignedto the assigneeV of the present invention.

As is seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, mounting of the agitator 31 upon `arms 51is made by means of a rigid cyliny drical liner 61 to which the mainbody portion 65 of the yllexible and resilient agitator vanes isadherent. Liner 61 includes open-ended grooves 62 within which endportions 63 of arms 51 are received. Mounting is maintained by screws 64lthat extend through agitator 31, liner 61, and into threaded engagementwith ends 63 of arms 51.

As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, agitator 31 comprises a maincylindrical body portion `65, this being the above described portionclosely engaging liner 61. A flattened ring or flange portion 66 extendsoutwardly from the upper region of agitator body portion 65, and anundular ange portion l67 extends outwardly trom portion 65 Iand has muchthe shape of the brim of an inverted three-cornered hat l(see FIGURE l).Beneath each of the peaks `of flange 67 there is disposed a flipper orvane Gil (see also lFIGURE 3) that extends radially lfrom the lower edgeof agitator body portion 65. The lower edge of agitator portion `65includes a bead 71 tha-t extends slightly inwardly and over the lowerrim of liner 61, and assists in maintaining `attachment of the agitatorto its liner.

Agitator 31 further includes a sleeve portion 7,2 that extends upwardlyyfrom Iupper ange 66. Agitator portion 72 includes a bead portion '73that is clamped Ibetween a lower rim portion of dispenser 55 and anupper rim portion of `shroud 52. A bellows-like -exible and resilientsleeve 58 is provided to seal 'the eccentric mechanism. Sleeve 58 isclamped by screws between basket 22 land its `hub 23, at one end, and byscrews between the portion of agitator base 33 mounted on bearing 34 andits spider hub portion 47, at the other end.

The upper clamped region of sleeve 58 comprises a circumferentialannular flange 4or vane 59 that extends radially from the sleeve `andytoward shroud '52. Vane 59 includes tab portions 6l)` that are disposed`for movements within the slot-like apertures 53, as lagitator base 33is caused to undulate. A similar, but rigid and perforate,

circumferential annular llange 38 extends radially from hub portion 4-7of agitator base 33, and closely overlies vane 59. The novel function-of this vane and flange structure will be set forth later in thedescription.

Unlike certain prior mechanisms, the sealing sleeve 5S is not relied onto prevent rotation of the 4agitator with respect to the basket. Thisfunction is performed 'by three pins 35 that are spaced 120 apart, andwhich extend into apertures 36 and 37 provided in hub means 23 and inagitator base 33, respectively. For the sake of convenience, only loneof pins 35 is shown. Each pin is mounted securely within an aperture 36and extends with some clearance into an aperture 37. Each of apertures37 comprises `a generally cylindrical bore that is slightly flared fromits central region toward its upper and lower ends. The liaringaccommodates substantially continuous engagement of the walls of eachaperture 37 with 4an inserted pin 35 as the agitator base 33 wobblesduring the washing operation, which pins also relieve sleeve 58 fromrelative twisting forces between agitator 31 land basket 22.

ln the operation of the above described apparatus, continuousunidirectional rotation of shaft 26 is provided by suitable transmissionmeans while hollow shaft 25, and basket 22 attached thereto, is heldfrom rotating Iby suitable brake means. Rotation of shaft 26 effectsnonrotative undulatory movements .of the agitator base 33, and agitator31 supported thereon. Rotation of agitator base relative to shroud 52and the basket 22 is prevented by the interengagement of pins 35 withthe tapered Walls of lapertures 37.

As the agitator 31 undulates, a generally annular current of wash fluidis created, as indicated by the arrows in VFIGURE 2, by the cooperativepumping action of llange 66, undular flange 67, and flippers 63.

The fluid flows generally upward adjacent the vertical Walls of basket22 and downwardly in the region of hollow column 55 and agitator 31, asshown by the arrows appearing in FIGURE 2. A portion of the downwardlymoving fluid flows through slots 57, screen 56, and outwardly throughslots 53 Vin shroud 52, after which it is forced vigorously youtwardlyby flippers 63 disposed in the regions of the slots. Propulsion of theliuid through the interior of shroud 52 is advantageously enhanced bythe undulatory movements of vane 59 and llange 38. In undulating,downward movements of vane 59 impel the uid downwardly, and llange 38engages the upper `surface of the vane to rigidity the latter in itsdownward, fluidpumping movement. In moving upwardly, vane 59 isdeflected downwardly by the relative force lof the fluid, therebyflexing away from flange 38, and the liquid passes outboard of the edgeof the vane and also through the perforations in flange 33. Thiscondition creates little or no downward pumping action so that, at most,the lluid inside the shroud will cease to flow. Since, however,undulatory movements of flange 38 and vane 59 are continuous, the netefect is a steady llow of lluid downwardly through the screen,interiorly of the shroud, and outwardly thro-ugh the apertures. t

Another portion of the downwardly moving wash fluid flows downwardlyover the flanges 66 and 67 yand rejoins the lllipper-directed lluid.This lower, horizontal lluid current flow is further assisted by the dipportions of flange 67, such horizontal ow preventing clothes .frombecoming lodged beneath the Kagitator 31.

It will .be appreciated that the invention provides an improvedcombination of a stationary column and wobble-type agitator apparatus`by virtue of which the number of linkages and seals are reduced andwhich cornbination achieves an `optimum washing action. The inventionalso provides improved wobble type agitator means which createsturbulent streams of Wash duid effective both to wash clothes land toaccommodate a filtering action for the ywash fluid.

While but `a :single preferred embodiment `of the invenarcanos tion hasbeen illustrated and described, it `will be understood .thatmodifications are contemplated by the scope of the appended claims. i

I claim:

1. Ina laundry machine, the combination comprising: basket means withinwhich may be disposed clothes to be washed; bracket means includinggenerally vertically extending support members spaced from one anotherand mounted within said basket means, and including an open centralportion generally concentric with the axis of said basket means, throughwhich portion wash 'duid may flow; hollow column means extendinggenerally -coaxially with said open central portion of said bracketmeans and having apertures through which wash iiuid may flow; screenmeans extending transversely of said column means and disposed at alevel `below the level of said apertures of said column means; hub meansdisposed and adapted -for undulatory movements within said basket means,including radially extending arm-s disposed in interdigitating relationwith said vertically extending members of said bracket means; landagitator vane means mounted for movement by said hub means and saidarms7 the construction and arrangement being such that undulatorymovement of said agitator vane means effects flow of wash iuid inwardlythrough apertures of said column means, downwardly through said screenmeans and through said open central portion lof said bracket means,thence outwardly rfrom beneath said agitator means.

2. A laundry machine in accordance with claim l and further including aiiexible annular flange structure moving with said hub means anddisposed and adapted to enhance the downward low of wash duid byinhibiting retrograde upward liow of the wash fluid through said bracketmeans.

3. The combination according to claim 1, and further characterized inthat said bracket means comprises 'a generally cylindrical member havingapertures and said arms extend through said apertures, said cylindricalmember having its base portion aixed to said basket means.

4. The combination according to claim l, yand further characterized inthat said vanen means comprise: a generally cylindrical body portionsupported by said radially extending arms and substantially enclosingsaid bracket means; iand a iiexible and resilient undular flangeextending radially from surface portions of said body portion.

5. The combination according to claim 4, andfurther characterized inthat said vane means includes radially extending vanes disposed belowthe peaks of said undular iiange, the construction and arrangement beingsuch that upon undulatory movements of said agitator vane means, washHuid within said basket is caused to be pumped, by the cooperativeaction of said vane means and said column, through said screen in theregion of the central opening of said bracket means and column andoutwardly lthrough spaces between members of said bracket means.

6. In a laundry machine, the combination comprising: basket means withinwhich may be disposed clothes to be washed; bracketmeans within saidbasket means, including an open central portion generally concentricwith the axis of `said basket means and leg portions mounting saidbracket means ito said basket means; hollow column means extendinggenerally coaxially with said open central portion of said bracket meansand having apertures through which wash fluid may iiow; screen meansextending transversely of said column means and disposed at a levelbelow the level of said apertures of said column means; hub meansdisposed and adapted for undulatory movements within said basket means,including radially extending arms disposed in interdigitating relationwith leg portions of said bracket means; and an agitator including vanemeans extending from said hub and mounted for movements by said hub, theconstruction and arrangement being such that undulatory movement of saidagitator and vane means effects ilow of wash fluid inwardly throughapertures of said column means, downwardly through said screen means andthrough :said open central portion of said bracket means, thenceoutwardly from beneath said agitator means.

7. `In a laundry machine, the combination comprising: basket meanswithin which may be disposed clothes to be washed; bracket meanscomprising a hollow generally cylindrical member generally concentricwith the axis of said basket means and having a plurality of aperturesin the walls thereof; hollow column means extending generally coaxiallywith said open central portion of said bracket means and havingapertures through which wash fluid may How; hub means disposed andadapted for undulatory movements within said basket means, includingradially presented arms extending through the apertures' of said bracketmeans; and an agitator including Y vane means extending from and movingwith said hub means and said arms, the construction and arrangementbeing such that undulatory movements of said agitator Vane means effectsflow of wash fluid inwardly through apertures of said column means,downwardly through the open central portion of said cylindrical bracketmeans, thence outwardly through apertures thereof and from beneath saidagitator means.

8. The combination according to claim 7 and further characterized'inthat said vane means comprise: a generally cylindrical body portionsupported by said radially presented arms 4and substantially enclosingsaid bracket means; and a exible `and resilient undular ange extendingradially from surface portions of said body portion.

9. The combination according to claim 8 and further characterized by theinclusion of: a perforate, radially presented rigid flange extendingabout the periphery of said hub means; and la radially presented,imperforate liexible and resilient flange disposed beneath saidperforate ilange `and extending beyond the outer periphery of the latterwhile spaced from the cylindrical wall portion of said bracket means,the construction and arrangement being such that said liexible andresilient iiange upon moving downwardly is engaged by the perforateiange and prevented from flexing whereby to impel water downwardlythrough said open central portion of the bracket means, .and upon movingupwardly said imperforate flange is disengaged by said pertorate angeand is exed downwardly by the iiuid' and permits the latter to ow past.

l0. In a laundry machine, wobble type agitator means i comprising: anIagitator base comprising radially presented arms; generally cylindricalshroud means having apertures through which said arms extend; agenerally cylindrical member generally concentric with said base,supported by said arms, and disposed about said shroud means; vane meanssupported by said cylindrical member; and eccentric means coupled withsaid agitator base and operative to impart undulatory movements to thelatter, the construction and arrangement being such that wash uid iscaused to iiow downwardly through said shroud means, outwardly throughsaid apertures, and from beneath said cylindrical member.

l1. A laundry machine in :accordance with claim l0, and furtherincluding a liexible annular ange structure moving with said eccentricmeans and disposed and adapted to enhance the downward flow of wash uidby inhibiting retrograde upward ow of the wash tluid through said shroudmeans.

12. Agitator means according to claim l0, and further characterized inthat said vane means comprises: a radially presented flange extendingalong an upper peripheral portion of said cylindrical member; 1anundular, radially presented liange extending from a peripheral region ofsaid member below said ilange; a plurality of radially presentedflippers, each disposed beneath and spaced from a peak of said undularflange; and ange means extending radially from said agitator base towardinner surface portions of said shroud means, and adapted to impel washfluid solely downwardly upon undulatory movements of said base means.

13. The combination according to claim l2, and further including:Ihollow column means, including slotted wall portions concentricallysupported upon said shroud means; and screen means extendingtransversely oi said column means in a relgion below said slotted wallportions, said screen meansbeing adapted to strain wash iluid as itiiows downwardly into said shroud means.

14. In a clothes washing machine the combination comprising: a basket; a:generally cylindrical agitator fhaving an open upper portion, agenerally vertically extending cylindrical main body portion, the lowerportion of which main body portion is spaced above the bottom of saidbasket, undulatory -vane means extending radially trom peripheralpontions of said main body portion, and a plurality of iiipper meanseach :disposed below and spaced from a peak of said nndullatory vanemeans; and means for moving the agitator to ondulato the same and effecta washing action, the construction and arrangement bein-g such that`disposition of said ippers relative to said basket as they move is suchas to create an outward pumping action between adjacent portions of theagitator main body portion and the basket.

15. The combination according to claim l14 and further characterized inthat said means for moving the agitator 'to eiect a washing actioncomprises: unidirectionally rotatable shaft means extending into themain body portion of said agitator; a pair of axially spaced sleevessupported upon said sha-ft and including axially aligned surfaceportions concentric with an axis disposed with angularity as respectsthe agitator shaft; bearing means supported coaxially with saidangularly disposed surface portions of said sleeves; agitator supportmeans carried by said bearing means and including a plurality of armsextending radially lfrom the latter, said arms dulatory flexible vanemeans extending radially from peripheral regions of said main bodyportion; a plurality of flexible vane means exten-dingI radially fromperipheral regions of said body portion, each disposed below and spacedvertically from a peak region of said nndulatory vane means; a llexibleconcentric sleeve portion extending from an upper region of saidgenerally cylindrical main body portion; and an annular flexibletiangeextending radially from a region of said main body pontion abovesaid .undulatory vane means and spaced from the latter.

17. Algitator assembly according to claim 16 and fur-y ther including arelatively rigid, cylindrical liner adapted to provide for support ofthe agitator -assembly and frictionallyengaging interior regions of saidmain body portion. l

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FieldsSept. 8, 1959 Hubbard Apr. 5, 1960

1. IN A LAUNDRY MACHINE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: BASKET MEANS WITHINWHICH MAY BE DISPOSED CLOTHES TO BE WASHED; BRACKET MEANS INCLUDINGGENERALLY VERTICALLY EXTENDING SUPPORT MEMBERS SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHERAND MOUNTED WITHIN SAID BASKET MEANS, AND INCLUDING AN OPEN CENTRALPORTION GENERALLY CONCENTRIC WITH THE AXIS OF SAID BASKET MEANS, THROUGHWHICH PORTION WASH FLUID MAY FLOW; HOLLOW COLUMN MEANS EXTENDINGGENERALLY COAXIALLY WITH SAID OPEN CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID BRACKET MEANSAND HAVING APERTURES THROUGH WHICH WASH FLUID MAY FLOW; SCREEN MEANSEXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID COLUMN MEANS AND DISPOSED AT A LEVELBELOW THE LEVEL OF SAID APERTURES OF SAID COLUMN MEANS; HUB MEANSDISPOSED AND ADAPTED FOR UNDULATORY MOVEMENTS WITHIN SAID BASKET MEANS,INCLUDING RADIALLY EXTENDING ARMS DISPOSED IN INTERDIGITATING RELATIONWITH SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING MEMBERS OF SAID BRACKET MEANS; ANDAGITATOR VANE MEANS MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT BY SAID HUB MEANS AND SAIDARMS, THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT UNDULATORYMOVEMENT OF SAID AGITATOR VANE MEANS EFFECTS FLOW OF WASH FLUID INWARDLYTHROUGH APERTURES OF SAID COLUMN MEANS, DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID SCREENMEANS AND THROUGH SAID OPEN CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID BRACKET MEANS,THENCE OUTWARDLY FROM BENEATH SAID AGITATOR MEANS.